Schlumbergera plant named &#39;PKMSchlum04&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Schlumbergera truncata  (Haworth) Moran hybr. plant named ‘PKMSch104’, characterized by its dense growth habit and white colored flowers. When grown at low temperatures the flowers are light pink (as shown in the figures).

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES CLAIMED

Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PKMSch104’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Schlumbergera plant, botanically known as Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr., common name Christmas Cactus, and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘PKMSch104’.

The new Schlumbergera is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Søhus, Denmark. The new Schlumbergera originated from an outcrossing made in 2009 by the Inventor between two proprietary, unnamed cultivars of Schlumbergera truncata hybr. The Inventor selected the new Schlumbergera cultivar from the progeny of the above crossing in 2011 on the basis of its flower color and compact, freely branching habit. Plants of the new Schlumbergera are more upright and compact than comparison cultivars.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by phylloclade cuttings taken and propagated and trial production batches in Søhus, Denmark, has shown that the unique features of this new Schlumbergera are stable and reproduce true to type in many successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PKMSch104’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PKMSch104’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Fast time to flower after end of short day treatments; and 2. Higher number of flowers and phylloclades per plant.

Plants of the cultivar ‘PKMSch104’ can be compared to plants of the Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr. cultivar ‘Malissa’ (unpatented). However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted over several seasons by the inventor in Søhus, Denmark, plants of the cultivar ‘PKMSch104’ and the cultivar ‘Malissa’ differ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Schlumbergera smaller and more phylloclades than plants of the cultivar ‘Malissa’. 2. Plants of the new Schlumbergera have phylloclades with smaller teeth than plants of the cultivar ‘Malissa’. 3. Plants of the new Schlumbergera flower earlier than plants of the cultivar ‘Malissa’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and details of flower form color and structures of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the claimed variety.

Photographs were taken after production at low temperatures (12° C.) for the final three weeks before the start of flowering and show the light pink flower color associated with the low temperature production. Production at higher, normal temperatures (18° C.) will yield almost entirely white flowers.

FIG. 1—shows a typical plant of ‘PKMSch104’ as grown in a 9 cm pot.

FIG. 2—shows a typical flower and phylloclade of ‘PKMSch104’.

FIG. 3—shows typical buds of ‘PKMSch104’.

FIG. 4—shows a typical plant of ‘PKMSch104’ in comparison with two other Schlumbergera varieties, as grown in 9 cm pots.

FIG. 5—shows a typical flower and phylloclade of ‘PKMSch104’ in comparison with a typical flower and phylloclade from two other Schlumbergera varieties.

FIG. 6—shows typical buds of ‘PKMSch104’ in comparison with typical buds from two other Schlumbergera varieties.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘PKMSch104’ have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length, and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition, where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants were grown under greenhouse conditions. Plants used for this description are about 12 months old.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr.         -   Variety denomination.—‘PKMSch104’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—proprietary selection of             Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr.         -   Male or pollen parent.—proprietary selection of             Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Single mature phylloclades.         -   Form.—Perennial plant (epiphyte), plants have an upright             shape and branched growth habit. Flowers singular, double,             or triple at apical ends of terminal phylloclades. Freely             branching with one to four new phylloclades forming at the             apical ends of older phylloclades.         -   Crop time.—After rooting, about 12 months are required to             produce finished flowering plants in 9 cm pots. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant height (soil level to top of plant, 3 levels of             phylloclades, excl. flowers).—14 cm.         -   Vigor.—Good.         -   Growth rate.—Slow.         -   Plant spread.—18-20 cm.         -   Lateral branch length.—(3 levels of phylloclades): 11 cm. -   Phylloclades:     -   -   Quantity per lateral branch.—12-15.         -   Length.—4.5 to 5.0 cm.         -   Width.—2.5 to 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Truncate with 2 protruding marginal teeth, 3-4 mm in             length. Barbellulate with 10-15 short bristles.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Serrate, 2-4 teeth per phylloclade, 2-5 mm in             length.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, smooth.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Color.—RHS NN137A, Green.         -   Venation pattern.—Costate.         -   Venation color.—RHS 144C, Yellow-Green. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming season.—October to December in the Northern             hemisphere. Can be changed with short day treatments.             Flowers appear 8-9 weeks after end of short day treatment.         -   Longevity on plant.—Highly dependent on temperature and             light conditions; generally 5 to 6 days. Flowers are             persistent.         -   Buds.—Aspect: Upright to outward. Length: Up to 3.5 cm             before unfolding of tepals. Diameter: Up to 1.5 cm before             unfolding of tepals. Shape: Ovoid to lanceolatoid. Color:             RHS 4D, yellow in small (˜1 cm) buds; RHS 55C, red at tips             and RHS 155D, white at base in larger (˜3 cm) buds. Buds             changing from white to pink with increasing bud size when             grown at 12° C.         -   Flowers.—Arrangement: 1-3 sessile flowers on apical             phylloclades. Shape and form: Zygomorphic; tubular with             lobes (tepals) extruding at base and at tube end. Fragrance:             None Tepal Arrangement: Inner whorl of tepals fused to form             a tube. Corolla tepals are initially at right angle to tube,             later somewhat reflexed. Tepal Number: 10 in fused inner             whorl forming the tube; 5-7 more or less free tepals in             outer whorl. Tepal Shape: Narrow Ovate Tepal Apex:             Apiculate. Tepal Margin: Entire Tepal Length: 30-35 mm Tepal             Width: 10 mm Tube Diameter: 10-12 mm. Flower Diameter: 6 cm             Tube Depth: 3.5 cm. Flower Depth: 8 cm (including ovary).             Texture: Silky Color: When opening, upper side: lobes RHS             NN155D, White. When opening, under side: lobes RHS NN155D,             White. Fully opened, upper side: lobes RHS NN155D, White.             Fully opened, under side: lobes RHS NN155D, White; tube             N66C, red-purple when grown at 12° C. for last 3 weeks             before flowering. At higher, normal temperatures (18° C.),             flowers are almost completely white RHS NN155D. Tepal color             fading: No fading. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen.—Number: Many, polyandrous, phaneranherous. Shape:             Incurved. Some filaments fused to perianth tube (connate).         -   Anther.—Shape: Basifixed; ovoid Color: RHS 11C, yellow.             Length: 1-2 mm. Pollen: Plenty; color RHS 11D yellow.         -   Filament.—Length: 5-7 cm. Color: RHS 155D, translucent             white.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: 55 mm Shape: Slightly curved.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Claw-like. Color: RHS 61B, red-purple.         -   Style.—Color: RHS N66A, red-purple. Length: 65 mm.         -   Ovary.—Color: RHS 144A, yellow green. -   Seeds: None observed. -   Weather tolerance: Tolerant to a high temperature of 40° C. and a     low temperature of 2° C. -   Disease/pest resistance: Not tested. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Schlumbergera plant named ‘PKMSch104’, as illustrated and described herein. 